This week’s poetry news round up takes a look at the blue plaque for a “forgotten poet”, and the arrest of Alice Oswald.
Spotlight for the Forgotten Poet of the Troubles
Earlier this week a blue plaque was unveiled for the poet Padraic Fiacc, who’s poetry which captured some of the darkest years in the history of Northern Ireland has been largely forgotten.
The plaque, which is located at the library on Falls Road, was unveiled by admirers of his work. The Belfast-born poet was much celebrated both at home and in the US for his compassionate and stark poetry which was heavily influenced by the violence of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Padraic Fiacc was born in west Belfast as Patrick Joseph O’Connor.
The unveiling was attended by fellow poet Paul Muldoon who was excited to talk about the influence that he felt Fiacc had had on the literary world through his work, stating,
he said. The pair collaborated when Muldoon worked at the BBC.
Muldoon was responsible for the creation of two BBC programmes the first explored Fiacc’s childhood on the Manhattan’s west side in New York when he lived in Hell’s Kitchen, having moved there at the age of 5 in 1929. The second discussed crossing the Atlantic by ship. He felt that Fiacc would have been very pleased with the blue plaque which goes a long way towards recognising his work.
Whilst living in New York, Fiacc met the poet Padraic Colum, who was also living there and who inspired him to fully embrace his Irish heritage. In homage to this he took on the name Fiacc which means Raven, and he often incorporated the themes of the natural world and birds into his poetry.
In 1946, Fiacc moved back to Belfast where he took on a number of roles before returning to New York. He lived there for another decade before finally settling in the area of Glengormley with his first wife.
His work was celebrated in the United States and also in Northern Ireland, although he did face criticism for the way in which his poems took an unwavering look at the violence in Belfast at the time. For “Woe to the Boy”, he was He was given the AE Russell Award and also the Poetry Ireland award. He was also an elected member of Aosdána, Ireland’s arts association.
Alice Oswald, Award-winning Poet Arrested
One of the most acclaimed poets in Britain, Alice Oswald was arrested at a mass sit-down demonstration that took place last weekend outside the house of Parliament in London, she was holding a sign supporting the direct-action movement “Palestine Action.”
Oswald, who won the TS Eliot Prize in 2002, is a former Professor of Poetry from Oxford University. She was arrested with 531 other demonstrators at what was a peaceful demonstration. Over 50% of those arrested were aged 60 or older and the majority were holding placards reading
You must register to comment. Log in or Register.